Chapter Twenty-five
Setask stood at the podium on the dais, looking out at all the red faces and snuggling family members. Just like she had suspected, every one of the bridge crew had avoided her this morning, but that was much the way she liked it.
"Everyone who does not stand among the mourners today certainly did not deserve to be absent from their families. I only regret that those not out there is such a large number." Setask concluded her speech, and sat down. Admiral Picard stood for the reading of names, as the caskets would be loaded, if not already set to the side by a family who wanted a more traditional burial for their family member.
"Tekam Teniale." An engine-side console worker.
"Tantell." A nurse.
"Aleal." The first baby on the ship's mother.
"Ch'Lika." An older twin.
"The'Lar'h Sh'ronia." The second would-be mother.
"Colby Vasser." A frenchman.
"Tegan Koerener." His girlfriend.
"Thavil Zth'Sharia." An old woman who wanted to protect everyone who still had so much life.
"Sasil." The only other Vulcan of the original crew.
"Garah." The woman who had been writing a last letter to her family.
"Xav." The youngest in the weapons room.
"Jezznah Padol." The only joined trill on the ship.
"Tholom Zh'GTissa." He was four days away from retirement.
The names droned on and on. It seemed as if there was no end. The sun moved four hours forward before the funeral ended.
Setask felt emotionally drained to the point where even eating seemed to be too much work. Instead, she slowly removed her dress uniform, threw it on the floor, pulled off her shoes and flung them in opposite directions, and peeled back the blankets of her bed, settling in and falling asleep.